Love It or Leave it: Saint Laurent’s New Prairie Flower Bags

When you think of Saint Laurent's aesthetic under the direction of Hedi Slimane, studs and leopard probably come to mind before sweet little mini florals, but that's exactly what the brand has in store for some of its Resort 2016 bags. Slimane has largely avoided prints (except for the aforementioned leopard) for his leather goods, so this turn of events seemed worth a closer look.

This particular floral is called Prairie Flower, and it does indeed call to mind the tiny flowers that might have dotted textiles in the Little House on the Prairie era. The print comes in both white and black backings, but the black helps to temper the femininity of the flowers so the bags still feels like Saint Laurent.

I'm not head-over-heels for the look, but it's growing on me, and I appreciate seeing a bit of range from the brand. Let us know how you feel in the comments!

Share Your Thoughts With Us

I don’t love it nor hate it, just a boring bag with floral prints. With prints anyone can come up with anything.

Passerine

Gucci’s floral prints from a coupe of year’s bag are prettier. As is this LV floral Capucines

Passerine

sorry, darn clumsy thumbs! should have been “Gucci’s floral print bags from a couple of years ago are prettier.”

ElainePG

It reminds me of the Laura Ashley floral wallpaper that everyone was putting in their houses in the 1980s. Pretty at first glance, very boring within a year. I own a small SDJ in oxblood, which I expect to use (and love) for many years. I’d never buy an expensive bag in a trendy pattern like this.

kindled

I actually like the flowers, but wish they weren’t in such ordered rows like that.

Not my favorite. It reminds me of the COACH (also prairie) floral pattern from a couple seasons ago. They had it with both a black or white background as well. Here’s a pin of an agenda with the COACH print for comparison: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/378302437425149584/

Sara

So true. I was loving this bag until you mentioned the Coach floral pattern. Now when I look at it, I see coach. Saved my money, thanks lol

Passerine

Thanks for the link to that Coach bag photo. You nailed it. Ditto for the Vera Bradley comment. IMO, offering such an uninspiring pattern at these price points is just not a good decision, from either the business or creative design perspective. The pouch is ok, you’d keep that inside another bag most of the time anyway, but the Sac de Jour in this design is just a big NO.

FashionableLena

For some reason, I can think is Vera Bradley.

Lisa

Meh. If you’re going in this direction, Dolce and Gucci do the floral thing much better IMO.

JaneH

The placement of the floral pattern makes me uncomfortable for some reason. :P I’d rather have it all over the place instead of placed THAT strategically.

As much as I love these bags’ designs, I detest the floral pattern. They are available in so much more beautiful variations that it’s a shame to spend good money on such a hideous floral print.

Sparky

If you’re doing a pattern…DO a pattern.
This looks like the designer hesitated, afraid to go too far so it got stuck in the middle. Neither here nor there.

Jerri R

I thought the same. As in very ‘on the fence’. Either explode with gorgeous florals or go absolutely clean and simple.

Chris

This is very much 80s, Laura Ashley and all. It is very feminine. This kind of pattern was hugely (!) popular back then. I guess as the 80s become more trendy, we will see this pattern more often, also with other brands.
And to answer your question: I neither love it nor hate it. Not my favorite, but not terrible either.

Jess

No. Just no. It reminds me of what Givenchy did. But they did it first didn’t they? Their print was much nicer too. I would actually buy a Givenchy floral bag if I had the extra cash. This doesnt do it for me one bit.

Jess

I think the fact the flowers go in parallel lines ruins it.

Casey

I think the people who know Yves Saint Laurent’s floral embroidered couture fabrics will appreciate this bag more than your typical handbag customer. Hedi draws from the archives so much more than people realize. Many of the prints are copied directly from the archives.

L.O.

Thank you thank you thank you for that point. I only wish that everyone knew this. Omg you don’t know how that makes me feel hearing something from someone that actually knows a thing or two about a designer. Bless your heart.